CHAIRMAN of the Agriculture and Drainage Committee within the Region 6 Democratic Council, Mr. Thakoor Persaud, reported that some rice farmers are selling their cultivation plots in Black Bush Polder, and are cultivating rice in the Kokerite savannah, which is an area designated for cattle pasture. According to Persaud, thousands of cattle, along with their farmers, are being disadvantaged by the rice farmers’ move, which may result in a conflict between the two groups.
However, responding to questions from the media, Persaud said a rice farmer was issued with a lease from the Lands and Surveys Department, permitting him to use the cattle pasture as a cultivating plot.
A hundred acres of land are currently under cultivation. The issuing of the contract, he said, is currently being investigated by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Persaud stated that the farmer once reared approximately a hundred head of sheep, which were all lost due to theft and flooding.
In his monthly report at the Regional Councillors statutory meeting, Persaud said that, of the 60,000 acres of rice broadcasted for the 2012 spring crop, 52,000 acres had already been harvested at an average yield of 33 bags of 155lbs each per acre, and that prices ranged from $64,000 to $68,000 per metric tonne, as received by the farmers from the millers.
Amongst other issues raised were the effects of transporting paddy on the access dams during the rainy season, and the allocation of separate lands for communal cattle pasture and rice.